How to Treat Dandruff: 3 Easy and Simple Tips 

Have you ever scratched your hair, only to look down and see a bunch of white flakes on your shirt?

 

If so, you’re probably one of the 50 million people across the country who struggle with dandruff.

 

In fact, nearly 50% of the general adult population experience dandruff.

 

In today’s article I am going to explain what dandruff is, what causes it, and what you can do about it.

I have talked to many women who feel like their dandruff is so excessive that it's like a snowfall. If this gif below describes your dandruff, then, this article is for you. 

What is Dandruff and its Signs?

Many people think dry scalp and dandruff are the same thing.

 

Although there are some similarities, they are not the same.

 

Dandruff are small pieces of dry skin that shed from your scalp. It is a type of skin condition that can cause scaly scalp. To be more specific, dandruff is a type of seborrheic dermatitis, which is a condition that can cause your skin to become flaky, red, and/or oily.

 

Dandruff is one of the most common scalp problems that women experience. There are many signs to look for to know whether or not you may have dandruff:

• White, yellowish, or oily flakes on your scalp 
• Itchy scalp
• Dry scales on your scalp
• Scaly bumps on your hair line (this happens in severe cases)

Besides dandruff being so annoying, it can also it can also result in your skin feeling irritated and itchy.  Even worse, severe cases of dandruff can slow your hair growth or cause temporary hair loss.

What Are Some Causes of Dandruff?

There are many reasons for why you might have dandruff. Some of the causes of dandruff may include:

 

• Dry skin – You can have dry skin for many reasons, one is, cold air from winter can dry out your scalp. Dandruff from dry skin is often less oily and has smaller flakes.

 

• Malassezia globose, which is a naturally occurring fungus that lives on the scalp. When this fungus is present it can break down natural oils which results in oleic acid. In turn, this can lead to visible appearance of dandruff. 

• Age – Many women can start having dandruff as early as puberty and even into more seasoned ages like 50 plus.

• Hormones – some hormones can cause activity in the sebaceous glands, which in turn increases the chances of your scalp having an inflammatory reaction. The result . . . you guessed it, dandruff.  

2.    Consume Probiotics

Probiotics have continued to grow in popularity over the last few years, especially because of some of their benefits.

 

Probiotics are “good bacteria” and some research suggests that they have several health benefits such as helping your body to fight fungal infections that are linked to dandruff, lower cholesterols levels, and provide allergy protection.

 

You can find probiotics in foods such as natto (sticky, fermented soybeans), kombucha, kimchi, and tempeh, to name a few.

3.    Eat Healthier Foods

The research on healthy diet and dandruff is not conclusive. However, it is important to eat foods that can relieve inflammation, and as a result, improve scalp health.

 

In addition, eating healthier foods can prevent fungal infections by controlling the growth of yeast. Again, I am not a doctor and recommend that you should first always consult your doctor before any major diet changes. But some of the food that you may want to limit are:

 

• Lactose-rich dairy products
• Red meat
• Processed food
• Foods with lots of sugar
• Foods or drinks high in yeast

Finally, dandruff can be annoying and hard to deal with. But the good news is that there are a number of things that you can do to manage it and hopefully get rid of it.

 

The next time you see some white flakes on your hair, start by trying these tips. And if your dandruff does not improve, it may be worth seeing a doctor or dermatologist.